ELCA Assembly Told of Video Contest Winners
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The winners of the 2009 "God's work. Our Hands." Video contest winners were announced Aug. 22 at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 17-23 at the Minneapolis...
ELCA Assembly Agrees to a Social Statement on Justice for Women
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- For the next five years Lutherans will study justice for women in church and society. By a vote of 754-176, the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) moved to develop a social statement on the topic, slated to be considered by the...
ELCA Assembly Hears Presiding Bishop Hanson Call for Continued Unity
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) – The presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) urged all in the church to continue discussing their differences, and meet “not in our agreements or our disagreements, but at the foot of the cross — where God is faithful, where Christ is present with...
ELCA Assembly Hears Greetings from Lutheran Organizational Representatives
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Attendees of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church America (ELCA) heard messages about the service and mission of organizations that work in collaboration with the ELCA and other Lutheran denominations. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug....
ELCA Assembly Adopts 2010-2011 Reduced Budget
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA)-- Voting members of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved a 2010 current fund income proposal of $76.69 million for the churchwide organization, and an ELCA World Hunger Appeal income proposal of $18.7 million. They also approved a current income proposal...
ELCA Assembly Adopts Amendments to Constitution, Bylaws
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) 2009 Churchwide Assembly approved all recommended amendments to ELCA Constitutions, Bylaws and Continuing Resolutions that the ELCA Church Council recommended for endorsement. All were approved with more than the two-thirds of votes required for passage. The churchwide assembly, the chief...
ELCA Assembly Affirms Work of Lutheran Disaster Response
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Churchwide Assembly gave strong affirmation Aug. 20 to the ministry of a disaster response agency it supports jointly with the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). By a vote of 529 to 20, voting members affirmed the ministry of Lutheran...
ELCA Assembly Takes First Steps on Ministry Policies Document
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are in the middle of taking steps to make it possible for the Lutherans in same-gender relationships to serve as professional leaders in the denomination. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority...
ELCA Assembly Picks Three Finalists for Vice President
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly narrowed the field to three candidates in its balloting for vice president. Voting a third ballot Aug. 21, voting members chose from a remaining field of eight candidates, selecting incumbent Carlos Peña, Galveston, Texas, Ryan...
ELCA Assembly Welcomes Peter Mayer, Buffett’s Lead Guitarist
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) – Peter Mayer, lead guitarist for Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, sees his involvement at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly as evidence that he’s “not your usual rock and roll entertainer.” Mayer was at the assembly Aug. 21 to perform a concert, with proceeds...
ELCA Assembly Actions Draw Criticism, Praise from Advocacy Groups
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) – Leaders of organizations favoring and opposing further involvement of people who are gay and lesbian in the church praised and denounced actions taken at the churchwide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Both expressed a desire to have the church remain united and for...
ELCA Assembly Opens Ministry to Partnered Gay and Lesbian Lutherans
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) - The 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) voted today to open the ministry of the church to gay and lesbian pastors and other professional workers living in committed relationships. The action came by a vote of 559-451 at the highest legislative body...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Comments on Decisions Regarding Ministry Policies
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- With debates closed and decisions made, the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States has voted to allow Lutherans in same-gender relationships to serve as pastors of congregations and serve in other professional leadership roles. This will result in a change in current ministry policies of the...
ELCA Assembly Hears Message of Unity from Ecumenical Partners
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Ecumenical partners of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) gave messages of thankfulness and prayer to attendees of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly during "Please know of our gratitude of you and prayers for you as you meet this week," said the Rev. John Thomas, general minister...
ELCA Assembly Discusses Ministry Policies
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Lutherans have been discussing their beliefs about human sexuality since the formation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) 21 years ago. The discussion continues at the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in anticipation of an action that may allow Lutherans in same-sex relationships to serve as...
ELCA Assembly Completes Second Ballot for Vice President
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Churchwide Assembly failed to elect a vice president on the second ballot. Voting took place Aug. 20. Incumbent Carlos Peña led on the second ballot with 657 votes. There were 686 votes required for election on the second...
ELCA Assembly Takes Steps to Implement Social Statement on Sexuality
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) – Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have been asked to implement the newly adopted social statement on human sexuality by continuing the study of sexuality, assist members to welcome peole who are gay and lesbians, encourage comprehensive sex education programs in public schools, support the...
ELCA Assembly Welcomes Tour de Revs at Final Stop
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Three pastors of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) set out on a mission 100 days ago -- to end hunger and poverty in the world by raising $5 million for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. "Our tour was not about records, but about revelation, revolution...
ELCA Assembly Action Draws Sharp Criticism, Praise from Advocacy Groups
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) – Two groups with widely diverging opinions on the social statement adopted Aug. 19 by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America praised the church for its action and denounced what some consider a departure from biblical morality. “The church has supported families of all kinds and has acknowledged...
ELCA Assembly Adopts Full Communion with the United Methodist Church
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- By a vote of 958-51, the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a full communion agreement Aug. 20 with the United Methodist Church (UMC). This is the ELCA’s sixth full communion relationship and the first for the UMC. The assembly also adopted...
